Reid's Racist Gaffe

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Jan..12, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                    

              Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)—and the Democratic Party—was blindsided by a new book, “Game Change,” by Time Magazine’s Mark Halperin and New York Magazine’s John Heilemann, giving an inside peak into the 2008 presidential election campaign.  Calling Barack Obama  “light-skinned” “with no Negro dialect unless he wanted to have one,” Reid revealed an unsightly side, hidden by his commitment to a liberal social agenda, including ending racial discrimination, perhaps the biggest and most unexpected windfall from electing President Barack Obama.  Reid and the Democratic Party responded quickly to his embarrassing remarks, talking up his progressive track record.  “I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words.  I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans for my improper comments,” said Reid.

            Reid’s mea culpa rang hollow to Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, calling for his immediate resignation.  Steele remembers vividly the media maelstrom that followed “humorous” remarks by former Sen. Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) when he quipped Dec. 5, 2002 at the 100th birthday party for Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), that the country would have been better off had Thurmond, who ran for president as a segregationist Dixiecrat in 1948, become president.  Civil rights leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, called for Lott’s head.  Two weeks later under withering pressure from White House and the GOP, Lott resigned his leadership position Dec. 20, 2002.  Reid’s comments were far more egregious in terms of actual racist remarks.  Referring to Barack as a “light-skinned Negro” was inexcusable and unforgivable.

            Getting Barack to accept his apology doesn’t put the genie back in the bottle.  Regardless of Reid’s track record, his outmoded, offensive words, cannot possibly reflect appropriate standards in the Democratic Party.  If Reid doesn’t step aside, it’s going to be difficult for Democrats to make political hay out of future Republicans gaffes.  Proving that Reid’s words were no fluke, Halperin and Heilemann also quoted Reid telling Obama he had no future in the U.S. Senate.  “You’re not going to go anyplace here,” Reid told Obama.  “I know that you don’t like it, doing what you’re doing,” showing a bizarre way of encouraging Barack to run for president.  Reid’s statements could be easily interpreted as black people won’t go too far in a white “good old boy’s club.”  While there’s nothing profane about Reid’s words, his language reflects ignorance not befitting the U.S. Senate.

             When former Los Angeles Dodger General Manager Al Campanis told Ted Koppel April 6, 1987 on ABC’s “Nightline” that blacks were bred on plantations to be better athletes, he was summarily dismissed.  Campanis, who roomed with Jackie Robinson, the first black Major League ballplayer, insisted he wasn’t a racist.  Reid too insists that he’s not a racist but his public remarks say otherwise.  Making politically incorrect comments reflect the kind of insensitivity, but, more importantly, bad judgment that calls into questions Reid’s leadership.  Reid has been a key player in shepherding Obama’s health care reform plan trough the Senate.  Democrats worry that if Reid steps aside as majority leader, it would derail Obama’s health care reform.  While there’s a crucial election next Jan. 19 for the late Ted Kennedy’s senate seat, passing health care reform is purely a numbers’ game.

           Reid faces tough re-election battle in his home state of Nevada next November.  Republicans have done a good job of painting the 70-year-old liberal as a left-wing extremist in his otherwise conservative home state.  Defending his track record, Reid dismissed Steele’s call his resignation.  “Moreover, throughout my career, from efforts to integrate the Las Vegas strip and the gaming industry to opposing radical judges and promoting diversity in the Senate, I have worked hard to advance issues,” said Reid, defending his reputation against charges of racism.  What Reid doesn’t get is that his racist talk is enough to sink his Senate position.  Regardless of Lott’s voting record, he was no more or less racist that Reid.  Reid’s advice to Obama sounded even more racist than telling the junior Illinois senator he was going nowhere.  Reid knew Obama had a bright future in the Senate.    

            Calling Barack a light-skinned Negro without a black accent reflects the kind of poor judgment that warrants Reid’s removal as Senate Majority Leader.  Failing to remove Reid will have consequences to the Democratic Party, who’s trying to confront racism and raise the bar for public political speech.  Reid’s track record doesn’t undo his abysmal judgment warranting his early retirement as majority leader.  No party can boast a truly progressive agenda when its Senate leader shows his backward thinking and racial insensitivity.  Whether or not Obama excused Reid’s gaffe doesn’t change the majority leader’s inner thoughts now exposed in full public view.  Whatever Reid’s fate in November’s midterm election, the Democratic Party has a right to be represented by someone without bigoted thoughts or words.  Reid’s gaffe can be forgiven but not overlooked.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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